Saxapahaw food pantry will (re)open its doors

Published: Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 04:59 PM.

“A good part of the food has actually come from Loaves & Fishes. They kind of jump-started us,” said Eldon.

She added that it’s not just Saxapahaw UMC that’s making S.A.F.E. possible – Concord United Methodist Church and Chatham Friends Meeting have also contributed.

“A lot of the setup and support has come from those churches,” said Eldon. “We’re starting in a really good place.”

Though the new food ministry is currently well-stocked, Cheek said it’s going to take continuous donations to provide groceries to “people who are food insecure, or don’t have enough food for the end of the month.”

Eldon said once the ministry is operating full time, taking interviews with possible clients on Tuesdays and Saturdays, she expects S.A.F.E. to be providing food to about 30 families each week.

“We’ll give them a couple of bags of groceries,” Cheek said, adding that he hopes to have fresh produce on hand to supplement the nonperishables.

Before S.A.F.E. officially opens, the church is holding a blessing of the building and ministry, as well as a tour of the facility Sunday at 4 p.m.

SAXAPAHAW – The Saxapahaw United Methodist Church is opening the doors of a new food pantry Sunday afternoon for a blessing and open house prior to the ministry’s official opening on Tuesday.

Southern Alamance Family Empowerment, or S.A.F.E., is Saxapahaw’s newest food bank, housed in the recently renovated building previously occupied by Loaves & Fishes Christian Food Ministry. In January, Loaves & Fishes had opened at 5950 N.C. 87 in Graham, in the building owned by Saxapahaw UMC.

“They had a lease signed, but they pulled the lease and turned it back over to the church,” said Jim Cheek, director of S.A.F.E.

“That was a joint venture with the Saxapahaw UMC,” said Brenda Allen, executive director of Loaves & Fishes. “The intent the entire time was to remodel it for them, get it set up and started, and then turn it over to them for it to be a community food pantry.”

The lease was for a year, but Allen said, “They were ready.”

“It was just four months shorter than our lease,” she said. “The lease was only a dollar a year, so there wasn’t anything lost.”

Sue Eldon, pastor of Saxapahaw UMC, said the church had hoped to have Loaves & Fishes at the location for the full year to help train the new volunteers, but she’s happy the food ministry renovated the building and left S.A.F.E. stocked with groceries.

“A good part of the food has actually come from Loaves & Fishes. They kind of jump-started us,” said Eldon.

She added that it’s not just Saxapahaw UMC that’s making S.A.F.E. possible – Concord United Methodist Church and Chatham Friends Meeting have also contributed.

“A lot of the setup and support has come from those churches,” said Eldon. “We’re starting in a really good place.”

Though the new food ministry is currently well-stocked, Cheek said it’s going to take continuous donations to provide groceries to “people who are food insecure, or don’t have enough food for the end of the month.”

Eldon said once the ministry is operating full time, taking interviews with possible clients on Tuesdays and Saturdays, she expects S.A.F.E. to be providing food to about 30 families each week.

“We’ll give them a couple of bags of groceries,” Cheek said, adding that he hopes to have fresh produce on hand to supplement the nonperishables.

Before S.A.F.E. officially opens, the church is holding a blessing of the building and ministry, as well as a tour of the facility Sunday at 4 p.m.

“We are asking people to bring canned goods and/or a cash donation,” said Eldon.

Those interested in applying for groceries can visit the food bank at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays for an interview. People interested in volunteering at S.A.F.E. should attend a training session at 9 a.m. this Saturday. Call Jim Cheek at 336-376-3658.